Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-10-28
TAe essex County GERALD.
ISLAND POND, OCTOBER %, 1887.
,Gev. Sawxersa Veto.

unique service. 1t would have been
altogether unique, had not Governor
Ames of Massachusetts vetoed the
Beverly division bill last spring for
the same reason. 1000
But, while the Governors course
is valuable as an emphatic rebuke of
corruption, it tends to fasten a stig-
ma upon the legislature as a whole,
while the rumors and testimony to
which he referred confined it to
comparatively few men.
Besides, he acted before the judi
'ciary committee had concluded its
investigation and his judgment Of
condemnation would have been in
contempt of their prerogative had
not the time within which he could
veto the bill been limited, lie pro-
badly meant no disrespect,
Moreover, since he did not exam
inc the bill upon its merits, and had
40 means OF knowing that it had de-
pended upon corruption for its pas
sage, his veto may have done the
people more injury than benefit.
Hitherto it has been supposed
that bills are vetoed because of in
trinsic reasons, because they contain
defective provisions or because the
policy they embody meets with ex-
-ecutive disapproval. But in this
cast a veto is interposed because one
branch of the law-making power
thinks another branch has been un-
duly assailed by the lobby. And
since there was confessedly opposing
lobbies, both resorting to the, same
methods, the veto is equivalent to
saying that one was stronger than
the other and succeeded.
Such a wholesale impeachment of
a legislature by a governor has
never before been heard of. If he
were not convinced that the large
majority for the bill in both houses
was obtained by bribery, it was his
duty to examine the measure upon
its merits, and to approve or dis
approve it, according to what it
contained and the effect it would
have upon the state. Then he could
have issued special message
against lobbying, or the use of
money in lobbying, or could proper
ly have left the subject to the judi
ciary committee of the house, which
is conducting the investigation.
1t is too early in the history of this
class of vetoes to Judge whether or
not they will have the effect to
check attempts at corruption. There
will be conflicting interests the same
as ever, and they will be pressed re-
gaYdless of the fear of vetoes. The
very existence in a state or corpo-
ration whose income is greater than
it can lawfully divide tends to
create lobby. If Gov. Sawyer
were a man of political discernment,
he would have seen that here is the
root of the evil which he has at
tempted to exterminate.
The true remedy would seem to
lie, first in abolishing such constant
menace by legislation or an exec
utive or judicial act adapted to do
1T, and second in arousing the people
of New Hampshire to the3 necessity
of electing men who cannot be COR
ruptly approached without personal
danger to the tempter.
The evidence in these cases dis
closed dallying, almost dickering,
certain hesitation on the part of the
!"insulted" members. 1t is no pun
ishment to.them or to the lobby to
veto the measure that passed, but on
the contrary it gives them another
opportunity, or if not them, others.
1t does NOT supply or obviate the
need for the legislation sought and
it will not prevent the parties from
employing all lawful means on both
sides. 1t will not prevent some of
their agents from employing unlaw-
full means. One good criminal
prosecution for bribery would be
worth dozen vetoes.
Finally, there is danger that, in
hard and prolonged contest, it will
set premium on legislative scan
dial. When the agents of both sides
are using money, and one side
learns that the other is getting
ahead, the temptation to cry "bri
berry" is very great. When a cor
poration cannot defeat bill other
wise, it will make case to frighten
tho oovarnor Then az in the nres